02 AUGUST 2015

Danny Green Returns to Fight Mundine

Danny Green is back

By Paul Upham: The “Green Machine” simply couldn’t stay away from the sport he loved. The former WBA light heavyweight boxing world champion announced on Tuesday that he was making a comeback, with his singled minded focus being on winning a rematch with arch-rival Anthony Mundine.

“Money hasn’t been the motivation for this comeback,” explained Green. “This is about me, this is about pride, this is about squaring up the ledger. Unfortunately when I fought Anthony Mundine I lost that fight and now it’s time for me to square the ledger and even up the score.”

Mundine and Green clashed in May 2006 outdoors at the Sydney Football Stadium in front of a live crowd of over 30,000 people. Mundine won a comfortable points decision at super middleweight. Green moved up in weight and won the WBA 175lbs world title from Stipe Drews in December 2007.

Green then retired unexpectedly as WBA world champion in April 2008. He claimed to have had an “epiphany” on Easter Sunday morning and promptly hung up his gloves.

“It was a very strong, instinctive gut feeling and I’ve never gone against my gut instincts,” Green said, at the time. “I’ve always made all the decisions in my life based on my gut feelings and this was no different.”

But as has been the case with so many other boxers, the temptation proved too strong and he will compete as a professional boxer once again.

“When I retired the feeling was that was it for me, it felt so right,” said Green. “But ever since that day it has played on my mind, the rematch with Anthony Mundine.”

While no specific date has been confirmed, the Mundine-Green rematch is expected to be held early in 2010, outdoors at the Subiaco Oval in Perth, where Green arrived for his Tuesday press conference by helicopter.

Green 25-3 (22), who turns 36 on March 9, suggested that he will have two to three tune-up fights before facing Mundine again, which will be contested at light heavyweight.

SecondsOut has learned that one of the leading candidates for Green’s first fight back is Sydney tough guy Nader Hamdan.

In Wollongong, Anthony Mundine and Shannan Taylor, who fight over twelve rounds on Wednesday night, were unhappy with the timing of Green’s comeback announcement.

“Listen, it’s me and Mundine now, come out of retirement next week Green, stay out of it, go surfing and enjoy yourself,” said an enraged Taylor. “You gave it up, you gave your word to the public (saying) ‘I’m not going to be one of these dumb fighters that come out of retirement’. Now he’s coming out on my day, when I’m fighting one of the best fighters Australia’s got. He should just let us enjoy our moment. He did it last week and he’s doing it now - I can’t believe it, just go away.”

Mundine is agreeable to a Green rematch, “There are two things guaranteed in life - me whipping Danny Green and taxes,” he said.

Green denied making his announcement on Tuesday in an attempt to take something away from the Mundine’s fight with Taylor.

“I could have made this announcement a week ago, I could have waited a week, I just wanted to get it off my chest,” said Green. “It’s off my chest and if it does steal his thunder - too bad.”